Bidding Ends, Two Hundred Thousand Taels

This was originally a battle to the death, a fight to the bitter end to destroy a sect.

Now, under Su Chen's intervention, it was heading towards a different, disastrous direction.

Liu Zhengfeng, a mid-stage Minor Grandmaster and second-in-command of Mount Heng; Lu Bai, a late-stage Minor Grandmaster and one of the Thirteen Taibao of Songshan.

Both were renowned figures in the martial arts world, yet now they were bickering like common street fishwives.

They argued until their faces were red and their mouths were frothing, completely lacking any noble demeanor or grace.

Such a scene truly astonished Yue Buqun, Abbess Dingyi, and the others.

Su Chen, however, leaned on his ring-pommel saber, watching with great amusement, the corners of his mouth curling upwards.

This was because, with Liu Zhengfeng and Lu Bai bidding against each other, the price had already soared to 150,000 silver taels.

That was 150,000 silver taels. In his three years of transmigration, Su Chen had never seen so much money.

Thus, seeing Liu Zhengfeng and Lu Bai still bidding, Su Chen, being astute, did not interrupt their argument.

Instead, he cheered them on internally.

Su Chen was overjoyed, unaware that Liu Zhengfeng and Lu Bai were now in a no-win situation.

Liu Zhengfeng's expression was extremely grim.

Although he was well-off and had plenty of money, his ready cash was only around 100,000 taels.

Now, the bid had reached 150,000 silver taels.

This was basically the limit he could borrow from his various shops and properties.

If he raised the price any higher, it would completely drain him.

Upon thinking of this, Liu Zhengfeng was filled with regret.

If he had known it would come to this, he would have spent 30,000 silver taels to hire Su Chen in the first place.

Now, it was five times that amount, over 150,000 taels.

Liu Zhengfeng felt a bitter taste in his mouth, as if he were chewing on raw Coptis chinensis.

He finally understood Su Chen's parting words: "The price won't be the same later."

However, understanding it now was too late.

With the lives of his entire family at stake, he could only choose to continue bidding.

Lu Bai, on the opposite side, was also filled with regret.

He would never have imagined that Su Chen, whom they had rejected in Tingsong Pavilion, would become the key to victory.

If he had known this would happen, he should have just agreed to Su Chen's terms back then.

Spending 100,000 silver taels would have easily resolved the issue with the Liu Zhengfeng family.

He wouldn't have to bear the infamy of harming a fellow martial artist, nor would he have ended up with Fei Bin killed and Ding Mian crippled.

But now, the price had soared to 150,000 taels, and even then, it was uncertain if the deal would go through.

Lu Bai was filled with immense regret, but unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world.

With things as they were, for the sake of his own life, he could only grit his teeth and persevere.

"200,000 taels." Liu Zhengfeng's voice suddenly became high-pitched. "Lord Su, I am willing to offer 200,000 silver taels."

"200,000 taels?" Su Chen's eyes lit up, his eyeballs seemingly turning into the shape of copper coins.

Immediately, he looked at Lu Bai, his right hand unconsciously stroking the hilt of his saber, as if he were about to draw it and strike Lu Bai down at any moment.

Lu Bai was greatly alarmed and hurriedly said, "I also..."

He intended to say he would also offer 200,000 taels, but after uttering just two words, he was forcefully interrupted by Liu Zhengfeng.

"Do you have that much money?"

"If it's about martial arts, I, Liu Zhengfeng, am indeed inferior to your Mount Song Sect, but when it comes to money, your Mount Song Sect is not."

"I know exactly how much money Zuo Lengchan has."

At these words, Lu Bai froze.

Liu Zhengfeng was right.

In terms of martial prowess, the Mount Song Sect was undoubtedly the strongest among the Five Great Sword Sects.

However, in terms of sect wealth, they were far inferior.

After all, cultivating so many experts also required money.

Even though the Mount Song Sect engaged in some illicit businesses and occasionally plundered wealthy merchants, they hadn't saved much silver over the years.

Just then, Liu Zhengfeng spoke again.

"Moreover, you're shouting prices wildly now. Do you truly intend to pay this money?"

"Everyone in the Jianghu knows the Mount Song Sect is overbearing and arrogant."

"Today, two of your Three Taibao are dead and one is crippled. You've suffered immense humiliation, and I suspect you've already plotted your revenge against Master Su after this."

"If you're allowed to return to Mount Song safely today, Master Su won't be receiving silver taels from you in the future, but rather Zuo Lengchan leading an ambush."

With each word Liu Zhengfeng spoke, Lu Bai's face grew paler.

He had to admit, Liu Zhengfeng's words were exactly what he was thinking.

The humiliation Su Chen had inflicted upon them today was unprecedented.

His offer to pay silver taels was merely a delaying tactic.

He planned to escape safely first, then return with reinforcements to ambush Su Chen.

Unfortunately, with Liu Zhengfeng exposing his intentions, it was unlikely he could get away with it now.

At this moment, Su Chen, who had been waiting for a long time, stretched as he saw the bidding between the two parties conclude.

Gripping the ring-pommel saber in his hand, he looked at Liu Zhengfeng and said, "Then it's settled for two hundred thousand taels of silver."

With that, he didn't give Lu Bai a chance to explain and immediately drew his saber, initiating the fight.

In truth, Su Chen had never expected Lu Bai to actually pay the silver taels.

The only reason he allowed Lu Bai to live a little longer and dither for so long

was to use Lu Bai, this competitor, to put pressure on Liu Zhengfeng and squeeze more profit out of him.

Looking at the current situation, Liu Zhengfeng had likely been squeezed dry.

Continuing to squeeze him wouldn't yield much.

As a man who had taken Western economics courses, Su Chen understood the law of diminishing marginal returns.

Rather than wasting time squeezing Liu Zhengfeng further, it was better to complete this deal quickly and look for other opportunities to make money.

Thus, Su Chen, carrying his ring-pommel saber, strode towards Lu Bai.

He released his aura, locking onto Lu Bai, leaving him no chance to escape.

Seeing Su Chen's murderous intent, Lu Bai was terrified, but he also knew there was no room for maneuver today.

He immediately shouted, "Damn it, I'll fight you to the death!"

With that, Lu Bai held his broadsword and met Su Chen.

Clang, clang, clang! Swords and sabers clashed.

Lu Bai was, without a doubt, being suppressed by Su Chen.

At this moment, the advantage of Su Chen choosing to cripple Ding Mian first became apparent.

If Ding Mian were still intact and capable of fighting, he and Lu Bai, two late-stage Minor Grandmasters, could have combined their strength to put some pressure on Su Chen.

Now, with Ding Mian crippled, Lu Bai was fighting alone and was no match for Su Chen.

In less than fifty exchanges, his defeat was evident.

"You killed members of my Mount Song Sect today. When my sect leader brother finds out, he will kill you for revenge, and you won't live much longer," Lu Bai threatened.

At the same time, he didn't forget to issue a stern warning to Liu Zhengfeng: "Liu Zhengfeng, don't get smug. Although we are defeated today, when my sect leader brother personally intervenes, your family will not escape death."

"Hahaha, I'll be waiting for you below."

As soon as Lu Bai finished speaking, Su Chen's saber cleaved down.

It directly split his broadsword in two and decapitated him along with it.

Threats?

He, Su Chen, feared threats the least.

He had killed Yu Canghai, who had the backing of a half-step Immortal of the Land, so how could he possibly fear a mere Zuo Lengchan?

Once he received and processed the two hundred thousand taels of silver promised by Liu Zhengfeng, a mere Zuo Lengchan would be nothing to worry about.